The Middelburg Specialised Commercial Crimes Court convicted the former project manager of Dr Pixley ka Seme Local Municipality, Luthando Mpangeva, and former administration clerk at supply chain, Mxolisi Evidence Hadebe, for fraud and money laundering.

The pair was charged along with Sibusiso Blessing Simelane, sole director of Evoke Trading (Pty) Ltd, who previously pleaded guilty to the crime, resulting in a separated trial.

In 2018, the trio colluded in facilitating and submitting fraudulent invoices from Evoke Trading (Pty) Ltd to the municipality without any services rendered.

This led to a loss of over R150 000 for the municipality.

Mpangeva and Hadebe were convicted on five counts of fraud and money laundering in terms of Section 4(1)(a)(ii) of the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act 12 of 2004.

The case has been postponed to October 24 and 25 for a pre-sentence report and sentencing in the same court.